page 4
Justice as Allah puts it commands the believers to be fair in
dealings, protect the rights of others, help the needy and
oppressed, and place the trusts where they belong. Justice
cannot be construed by hatred, love, or sympathy for any
individual or group, whether they be rich or poor, male or
female, Muslim or NonMuslim. Allah obligates us to be just
because that is closer to righteousness; and that is what will
lead us closer to paradise. In the Islamic tradition, Justice does
not merely exist in the courtrooms or only carried out by
judges, law enforcement officials, or elected representatives.
For the most part, every individual can carry out justice. The
Prophet (peace be upon him) informed us that we must
respond to evil; either through our hands or our tongue or our
hearts. Islam provides a
very comprehensive
definition of Justice and
to clearly understand the
concept, we must
understand its opposite:
oppression (dhulm in
Arabic). Oppression is
manifested through
depriving people of their
rights, disregarding the
plight of the weak,
cheating in dealings, and misappropriating the trusts. Any type
of deprivation of people’s rights or practice of wrongdoing is
so abhorrent in the sight of Allah that in a famous hadith
Qudsi, He SWT forbade it for Himself first and then forbade it
for the believers. Allah says in the Qur’aan that oppression is
worse than wrongful murder. In order to promote justice, the
Prophet SA encouraged the believers to help both the
oppressed and the oppressor (prevent him from oppressing
others), as a method to mitigate further acts of oppression.
When we, or those we love, are the victims of abhorrent,
deplorable conduct, it is extremely easy and convenient to
demand justice. But what if we are at fault? What if our best
friends and closest relatives are the perpetrators of blatant
wrongdoing and transgression? Imagine for a moment that
your friendly neighbor’s house has been robbed and
vandalized by a couple of rabblerousers. The windows were
smashed. Thousands of dollars worth of property were stolen.
The thieves get away and the police failed to respond on time.
You would want their property to be restored and the thieves to
be punished. But what if the thieves were your cousins and
your close friends? Allah tells us in the Qur’aan to stand
firmly upon justice, even if it be against our own
selves or our parents, or our kin, etc. Allah says
in the Quran in Chapter 4: verse 135,
“You who believe! be upholders of justice,
bearing witness for Allah alone, even against
yourselves or your parents and relatives.
Whether they are rich or poor, Allah is well
able to look after them. Do not follow your
own desires and deviate from the truth. If you
twist or turn away, Allah is aware of what you
do.”
And again in Chapter 5: verse 8,
“…Do not let hatred for a people
incite you into not being just. Be just. That is
closer to taqwa…”
In short, we cannot display an advantageous
value system where we seek justice only when it
is to our advantage. In addition, all people
instinctively crave j ustice for themselves and
despise being oppressed.
In spite of this, far too
many people treat other
people unjustly. They
despise being abused by
the speech of others, but
abuses others without
hesitation and
contemplation. They will
cut in front of people in a
long line, but consider it
unacceptable when other
people do the same. They will make a mockery
of other people as a ‘joke’ but refuses to laugh
when the jokes are on them.
Because justice is fairness in treatment of others;
treating them the way we want to be treated.
Although it sounds rudimentary, it is extremely
difficult to implement.
Justice is so crucial in Islam that even if a
Muslim transgresses against a NonMuslim,
there should be a prescribed atonement...
providing that the NonMuslim is not in war. For
example, When Ali RA, the leader of the
Muslims, saw his stolen shield in the hands of a
Jewish man, he brought the case to court. The
Judge, who was a Muslim, ruled in favor of the
Jewish man because Ali RA could not produce
the necessary witnesses. Seeing this Justice, the
Jewish man announced his Islam. Furthermore,
even to young children, we are commanded to
be just and fair because it prevents animosity
continued on pg 6....
"All people
instinctively crave
justice for
themselves and
despise being
opressed"
A MUNA Youth Publication